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Home Binky Records |
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So a further investigation of the enclosed materials told me that this was his sixth release and that he was voted as the best country/folk artist in both the Big Easy Entertainment Awards and Offbeat Magazine's "Best of the Beat" awards. Okayso that is in New Orleans, a whole state away, and in some artistic senses, a whole world away. But wait, upon further reading I learned that West not only is a hot act in New Orleans, but that in fact he roams the world performing as much as 300 nights a year. Now I was really perplexed as to how it was that I had never heard of him. So, popping "Home" into the CD player, I decided to take my quest for knowledge online to see what I could learn about the enigmatic Mr. West. West was born in Australia, but was raised in Great Britain. The 80's and early 90's found West as the frontman for the pseudo New Wave/Alternative rock band The Man From Delmonte. In 1993, tired of the Alternative music scene, West packed up and moved to the United States and eventually settled down in New Orleans. There he purchased a banjo from a pawnshop and began the next phase of his musical career by hitting the various French Quarter clubs to play music and tell his stories. Yeah, I know what you are saying right about now, you are wondering what all of this has to do with Americana music. Had I not been listening to the CD, I would have probably shared in your concern. However, what I was hearing could not only be classified as Americana, but good Americana to boot. "Home" contains 14 finely crafted songs that tell tales of the American experience. West says that he draws upon his friends and neighbors for the material for these songs, which after hearing them can only lead me to conclude that his neighborhood is certainly a lot more interesting that any I have ever lived in. On this recording, West has surrounded himself with some mighty fine musicians as well. He and Jeff Burke (Jeff and Vida) take turns playing lightning hands on the banjo, mandolin and guitar. Matt Perrine provides the bass lines by playing the bass and/or the tuba. Gina Forsyth gives us some wonderful performances with the requisite fiddle. Bart Ramsey's sure fine playing of the accordion enhances the Cajun folk feel of this record. And then, of course, there is West's musical sidekick Myshkin supplying some beautiful harmony vocals, as well as lending her talents on the mandolin, spoons, washboard, and yes kiddies, even on sandpaper. It is not often, these days, that one finds a recording that contains accordions, spoons, washboards, sandpaper, bone playing, and dog barks all on one disc. Of course, there are the zydeco artists that use many of these "instruments," but I know zydeco, and this my friend is certainly no zydeco. Outside of using the broad banner of Americana, it is difficult to classify. Suffice it to say that it is something akin to Atomic Cajun Folk Bluegrass. Yeah, I made that up. My point is, though, to try to classify it takes away from the artistry that West has achieved with Home. It is genuine. The opening track, 'Americans', tells the story of three generations of Cajuns. Had I not already known West's biography, I would have sworn that he was telling the story of his father and grandfather. One can picture the young West, confronted with a grandfather who distrusts the people of the land that he populates and prefers the company of French speaking Creoles, and a father who is a bigot, striking out first to LSU then to the great adventure of the country beyond. The contrast of characters in this song presents a very real generational image. One that many of us can identify with. Musically, I was sold on the work of West when I heard the next track, 'Elise'. This swamp crawl styled song features some fine mandolin work by West, as well as some superb, haunting fiddle playing by Forsyth and equally impressive accordion work by Ramsey. It all comes together with Burke's ever able guitar playing and some beautiful background vocals supplied by Myskin and Laura Freeman to give voice to a story that is straight out of the best of American Bluegrass tradition. The key elements of the story include, but are not limited to, marital infidelity, blackmail, murder, and insanity. Luckily, this is one of the tracks that you can hear off of "Home" by going to West's web site at www.mojono.com/mm. Every folk writer worth his salt has to write a protest song from time to time, after all, so much of the tradition was built out of protest. On this CD, that requirement is filled by 'Corps of Engineers', and tackles a topic that is close to the heart of the people of southern Louisiana, the ruination of their land and bayous in the name of maritime progress. Folks round here got the fear of God, Just as I was ready to classify West as a humorous songwriter, he comes up with a number like 'Corps of Engineers' to show he has a little sensitivity and depth. Thinking that this was perhaps an aberration of sorts, 'Stillwater Firefighter' dispelled that notion instantly. This bittersweet tale shows a craftsmanship and depth of talent that is rare these days, especially in the popular music industry. This track also serves as testament to West's uncanny ability to write the perfect score for each of his stories; every song fits together musically, instrumentally and lyrically with absolute perfection. The impact that the Bible Belt bears on those that live within its confines is the source of West's next two tracks on this record. Consider this excerpt from 'God is Down in Oklahoma': The good Lord's finally understood However, West takes a different perspective on the topic of religion with 'You're Gonna Burn'. Here he tackles the age-old issue of hypocrisy, in this conversation between a farmer, who is a "good" man but fails to keep the Sabbath, and a country preacher. Again, the bluegrass feel of the music to this song provides a very fitting backdrop for the lyrics. Honestly, the more that I listen to West's work, the easier I find it to not only endorse this CD, but to praise it as well. Returning to the countryside of southern Louisiana for 'Squirrels', West takes a witty and slightly askew look at culinary habits. Cows do more drugs than athletes, There ain't no fat but there's plenty of meat on them. 'Squirrels' shows again the lengths that West will go to get the right sound for each of his songs. This track features Perrine supplying the bass line on the tuba, not a real common instrument away from concert and marching bands, but it helps to give the song that jug band sort of feel to it. The tuba will make another appearance in 'No Worries', a song that has the musical feel of the turn of the last century. 'No Worries' is a very quick tempo number that shows off the talent of each and every one of the musicians on this album. 'The Strap' is musically straight out of the Appalachian folk music tradition, and could have very easily been written 100 years ago as it was today. The reason that I make mention of this is to show the diversity that West has exhibited throughout this album. The credits tell us that "Home" was recorded by West and Myshkin at the Ninthward Pickin' Parlor, which his press release tells us is in fact his living room. This only adds further to West's mystique, as this CD sounds as good as any that are recorded and mixed in those high falutin' recording studios. "Home" contains within its tracks a virtual musical smorgasbord, from contemporary folk music, to the various styles that I have already enumerated. The songs are wry and witty, and full of passion and energy. As a songwriter, West is poignant and pithy, with his finger firmly on the musical pulse that streams through the Corpus Americana. He is not afraid to truly entertain the listener, at one moment making him laugh, at the next making him cry. He is not afraid to ask questions that need to be asked, or to ask those that never should have been asked. West has won the respect of many of his contemporaries, working with the likes of Jeff Burke (see Rockzilla's review of Jeff and Vida's "One Horse Town) and Kirk Rundstrom (see W.M. Smith's review of Kirk Rundstrom's "Wicked Savior"). He is already a performing favorite at many of the venues that feature the Americana sound, and has built this admiration from sheer talent as both a musician and a songwriter. And it is only a matter of time before he starts to sweep onto the airways of stations that feature Americana formats as well. So, if you are looking for something that is fresh and invigorating, fun yet thought provoking, musically adept and entertaining, look no further than Mike West's Home. Still wondering who Mike West is? Well, you can learn more
about Mike West and Myshkin, hear sound clips, or purchase their
entire CD catalog at www.mojono.com/mm.
Or check out Binky
Record's site for info about Mike,
You can contact Scott Snidow at: scott-at-rockzilla.net |
Who is Mike West? Don't feel bad if you ask yourself that
question. So did I. When I opened the envelope that contained
this CD, and looked at the cover, not only did I ask myself who
he was, but I also wondered what exactly I had gotten myself
into here. There, looking back at me from the cover of the disc
case was a skinny guy with brown hair that reaches about mid
back, holding a can of spray paint in his right hand, with a
mandolin draped around his neck, barefoot and wearing a dark
t-shirt and some knee length cut-off jeans that looked like he
was ready to do something really wild and crazy, like spray
painting graffiti on the Cyprus trees out in the bayou. Honestly,
he looked like he could have easily been one of the extras from
the film "Deliverance."
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